Funds for Nursing Programs Released; Accelerated Program To Launch in May

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger (R) on Thursday released $2.75 million through the Office of Statewide Health Planning and Development's Song-Brown Family Physician Training Program to increase capacity at nursing schools in California. Funding is available on a competitive basis for all accredited registered nursing programs in California (Office of the Governor release, 1/25).

Accelerated Program To Launch

California State University-Fresno in May will launch an accelerated nursing program open to non-nursing students who have a Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science degree in any field, the Fresno Bee reports. The program aims to train 60 nurses and 60 nurse teaching faculty.

Students who have completed prerequisite courses will be eligible to take the registered nurse licensing exam within 18 months of beginning the three-year program.

The program is being funded by a one-time state grant to address the state's nursing shortage. About six CSU campuses will receive funding for the entry-level master's degree program, according to Michael Russler, chair of the nursing department at Fresno State (Correa, Fresno Bee, 1/25).

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